Piece of ordnance more particularly adapted for firing against aircraft



June 12, 1928.

N. E. METHLIN PIECE OF ORDNANCE MORE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR FIRING AGAINST AIRCRAFT Filed Dec. 1925 9 Sheets-Sheet A June 12, 1928. I 1,672,949

N. E. METHLIN PIECE OF ORDNANCE MORE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR FIRING AGAINST AIRCRAFT June 12, 1928. 1,672,949

N. E. METHLIN PIECE OF .ORDNANCE MORE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR FIRING AGAINST AIRCRAFT Filed Dec. 2, 1925 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 PIECE OF ORDNANCE MORE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR FIRING AGAINST AIRCRAFT June 12, 1928. 1,672,949

- N. E. METHLIN Eil ec. 2, 1925 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 mfg emk hmm June 12, 1928. 1,672,949

N. E. MEITHLIN PIECE OF ORDNANCE MORE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR FIRING AGAINST AIRCRAFT- Filed Dec. 2, 1925 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 figs. i

Z TIT' June 12, 1928.

N. E. METHLIN PIECE OF ORDNANCE MORE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR FIRING AGAINST AIRCRAFT Filed Deb. 2, 1925 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 G J/q/ June 12, 1928.

N. E. METHLIN PIECE OF ORDNANCE MORE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR FIRING AGAINST AIRCRAFT Filed Dec. 2, 1925 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 win/02211.? 1

V-kalmw June 12, 1928. I 1,672,949

N. E. METHLIN PIECE OF ORDNANCE MORE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR FIRING AGAINST AIRCRAFT I Filed Dec. 2, 1925 9 Sheetsheat 8 1' 9. TT

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N. E. METHLIN PIECE OF ORDNANCE MORE PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR FIRING AGAINST 'AiRCRAFT 9 Shets-Sheet 9 vwza auxin/MA FAQ Filed. Dec. 2, 1925 Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT o FicE.

NICOLAS IJMILIEN METHLIN, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOB TO SCHNEIDER & 0113., OF PARIS, CE, A LIMITED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY OF FRANCE.

PIECE OF ORDNANCE MORE PARTICULAR-LY ADAPTED FOR FIRING AGAINST AIR- CRAFT.

K Application filed December 2, 1925, Serial No. 72,743, and in France December 16, 1924.

According to the invention the piece con1-' prises a gun barrel recoiling in a cradle which lies on one of its sides, the said cradle being pivoted at its rear end about a horizontal shaft, the bearings of which are carried upon a platform moving about a true or imaginary pivot; the whole of the oscillating mass is supported, due to the fact that the cradle is connected at a point near the centre of avity of the said mass, to a counter balancing device comprising a metallic hydraulic or pnuematic spring acting directly or through a. transmission gear and in any case exerting its efiort at a fixed point upon a support which point is situated substantially in the vertical plane passing through the pivoting axis of the cradle. This fixed point is, moreover, chosen in such 2 a way that for any angle of inclination of the oscillating mass, balance is practically obtained.

thus designed combines the following t essential advantages:

1. Due to the pivoting of the cradle about a shaft which is as close as possible to the plane of the platform, and consequently, very near to the ground, the forces tending to overturn the gun during firing are reduced to a minimum, whatever he, moreover, the. inclination of the gun; the gun becomes consequently very stable for all firin angles.

2. Due to the fact that the "cradlqthus pivoted at its rear end, is also turned on one of its sides, a field 'of vertical inclination of nearly 180? is obtained, the loading of the remaining possible in all positions.

3. The space beneath the oscillating means is made entirely free, so that, in order to load the gun on to a train of wheels, the axle of this train may be brought beneath the said mass, at a point such that the gun remains in a state approaching that of neutral equilibrium upon the axle; the front part of 60 the oscillatingmass practically balancing the whole of the back part of the platform and all it carries.

in bea Various practical forms of construction of the lnventlon are illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation, partly in section,-of the gun in one position for firing,

Figure 2 is a similar sectional elevation, taken along the line 22 in Figure 1, the oscillating mass being shown vertical in this positlon.

Figure 3 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 1. i Figure 4 is a longitudinal elevation showmg the gun mounted upon a train ofv wheels and coupled up to a limber.

Figure 5 is an elevation with a part in section, of a second form of construction.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 66 in Figure 5, the oscillating mass being assumed to be in the vertical position.

Figure 7 is an elevation, with a part in section of a third form of construction, in

which the piece comprises two gunbarrels coupled together; this section is taken along hne 77 in Figure 8 which is a section taken along the line 8-8 in Figure 7, the oscillati in mass being assumed to be vertical.

igure 9 is a section taken along the line 9-9 in Figure 8.

'Figure 10 is a plan corresponding to Figure In the two first forms of construction, the gun comprises a single oscillating mass formed of a 'gun barrel A recoiling in a cradle B which is turned on one of its sides and is pivoted at its rear end, by means of ashaft C-provided with two trunnions 0,0 d, d formed upon a platform D. The plat orm D turns in the known manner about a true or imaginary pivot; it engages by means of a flange D upon a. crown wheel E which forms a rolling track. The whole of the track E, the platform D and the gun ment whatever upon its sides, so that free access is obtained underneath the mass, even for positions of small inclination to the the latter and situated near the centre of gravity of the said oscillating mass) to a balancing device having a metal or other spring or buffer, arranged so as to exert its effort at a'fixed point taken upon a support H which is situated in the vertical plane passing through the axis of the trunnions In'the example shown in Figures 1 to 4, the balaneing device consists of a cylinder 1, having two trunnions i turning in bearings 12. formed upon the fixed support H, rigidly connected to the platform D. In

the cylinder I are located metal springs J one end of which presses against one end of the cylinder, and the other against a piston K the rodK of which is connected to the cradle B at B The fixed point upon which the counter balancing device exerts its effort, through.

the medium of the trunnions 2', consists in this case of the bearings h formed upon thesupport H. The position of the bearings h is, moreover, fixed in such'a way that for all angles of inclination of the oscillating mass balance is practically obtained.

The laying mechanisms may be constructed in various ways. The gun is trained, of course, by rotating the platform D upon its rolling track; the imaginary pivot may be completed, as shown in the drawing by a true pivot e formed as a projection upon the track E upon which pivot fits a socket D formed beneath the platform D. The track E may, for example, be provided with helical teeth E upon which turns in the known manner a worm D turning in bear-- ings provided upon the platform D and actuated by a transmission gear leading to a hand wheel D The gun is elevated, for example, by means of a worm D actuated by a hand wheel d and turning in bearings carried upon the platform D or the support H attachedto the latter; the worm D* en'- gages with a helical toothed sector I which is attached to the cylinder I of the-counterbalancing device and is keyed for this purpose upon an extended portion of one of the trunnions i of this cylinder.

To the pedestal G of the platform may be pivoted in the known manner four arms L, L. L, L. the free ends of-which may serve for securing the gun by means of anchoring pins while the pedestal G may itself be provided with openings through which pins may be driven.

It is to be noted that four arms L L L, L do not form true anchoring trails but in this case only serve the purpose of providing for the gun a polygon of support" .when the gun is set up, whatever be the irregularities in level of the ground upon which the pedestal G is placed. The track E is provided in the known manner with two levels MVM placed at right angles to each other. In order to set the platform D so that it is horizontal, a worm 9 turning in bearings carried upon the pedestal G is actuated by means of a handle g; this worm displaces a crown wheel F provided with helical teeth, formed upon the sole plate I which causes the whole of the sole plate F, the track E, the platform G and the gun mounted upon it to turn on the pedestal Gr. The handle 9 is actuated until the hubble of the level. M comes between its datum lines. In this way the axis of the level M is brought into the line of greatest slope of the pedestal G. As the axis of the level M is in the vertical plane passing through the axis of a worm F turning in the sole plate F and engaging withhelical teeth E formed upon the rolling track E, it is sufficient to actuate the worm F by means of the handle f until the bubble of the level M comes back between its datum lines, thus causing the track E to slide between the circular are shaped guideways f in order to bring the platform D into the horizontal,

when the bubble of the level M will be between its datum lines. I

It is easy to see that the gun described may be given inclinations ina vertical field approaching 180, the gun being loaded without difliculty in all these positions, balance being always obtained, and the firing stresses passing wholly through the axis about which the cradle turns, without imposing any stress upon the laying-mechamsm.

For travelling it is suflicient to incline the gun at a very small angle above the horizontal and a train of wheels may then be placed underneath the cradle, the axle of the latter being placed in a position, near the centre of gravity of the whole of the gun, such that by resting upon it as shown in Figure 4, the oscillating mass, it is possible to obtain without exerting a great effort a swinging movement enabling the whole arrangement G,FED and the members it carries to be raised, the front part'of the oscillating mass practically balancing the composite mass of the back part.

Naturally, for travelling, the arms L and L are first folded towards the front, while the arms L and L are folded back in order to form a pintle hole for coupling the gun up to a limbcr N. The support H is preferably adapted to fold forward by turning about a shaft H after the removal of a locking bolt H Similarly the pivotal connection of the rod K ofthe counter balancing is preferably removable, and it is possible by actuating the hand wheel (1, after having rendered the piston K stationary by means of a set screw is to turn the cylinder I of the counter balancin device so as to bring it into a position sue that it is parallel to the cradle.

Figures 5 and 6 illustrate an example of the application of the new gun, with a fixed platform, mounted in position, for example, upon a concrete pedestal.

In this example the rolling track E upon which the platform D turns. is fixedupon concrete bed forming a pedestal G.

As in. the preceding example, the cradle B, which is turned on its side, is attached to a shaft C, the trunnions c, c of which turn in bearings cl, d formed upon the platform D. The counter balancing device comprises a cylinder I in whichare disposed springs J one end of which presses against the end I, and the other against the piston K to which is connected one end of a cable K. The other end of this cable is guided over a cylindrical drum K upon the shaft K of which is keyed another drum K forming a winding cam for a cable K connected to a rod K the length of which may be adjusted by means 0; a turnbuckle K and which is connected at B to the bottom of the cradle B. The cable K is guided -between two pulleys I I the shafts of which are carried by the cylinder I.

It is seen that in this case the cylinder I is fixed and forms at the same time a support for the pulleys I, I upon one or the other of which, according as the gun is inclined to the left or to the right of the drawing, is chosen the fixed point upon which the counter balancing device exerts its effort.

The elevating mechanism may, as shown in the figures, comprise a--fixed sector with helical teeth D rigidly supported upon the platform D, engaging with a worm B turn ing in the cradle B, the shaft of which worm is rotated by a gearing B B-B also carried uponj'the cradle, the pinion B engaging with a pinion I keyed upon a sleeve 1 moving in the bearing d, which may also form one end of the cylinder I. The liner I also carries a pinion I connected by a chain 1* to a toothed wheel I? theshaft of which turns inthe cylinder I and is actuated by the hand wheel 1 In the example shownin Figures 7 'to 10 the gun comprises two oscillating masses coupled together with brakes and recuperators, conjugated in the manner described in the U. S. Patent No. 1,487,695.

'The two cradles B. are both turned on one of their sides and are opposed to each other by their bottoms being pivoted about a common shaft C, turning in bearings formed as projections upon the platform I). The counter balancing device may in this case consist of a cylinder I which is fixed and arranged horizontally upon the platform between two supporting frame plates H. In the cylinders are disposed springs J as in the previous examples, the said springs pressing by one end against one end of the fixed cylinder, and by the other against a piston K. To this piston is connected one end of a chain K guided over pulleys I, I and between two pulleys I I upon one or the other of which is taken the fixed point upon which the balancing effort is exerted, the chain K being on the other hand attached to a sleeve B upon a shaft 6 forming a cross stay between the cradle B and at the same time a communication duct between the recuperator-brakes O.

The elevating mechanism is more particularly shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10. The transmission gear comprises in this case, as in the previous example, a fixed helical toothed sector D attached to the platform D, with which sector engages a worm B turning in a support (l v keyed to an extended part of the shaft C rigidly attached to the cradles B; the movement is communicated to the worm B through the gearing B B which terminates in a hand wheel I.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a support, a cradle pivoted at one end on said support, a gun carried by. said cradle, means on said support extending vertically above said pivot, and counter Ill) balancing means operatively connecting said oscillating mass, means on said support extending above said pivot, counterbalancing means operatively connected to said first named means, and means for connecting said counterbalancing means to said cradle:

at a point near the center of gravity of the I oscillating mass.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a support, a cradle pivoted at one end to said support, a gun carried by said cradle, means on said support extending above said pivot, and resilient means opcradle and said firstnamed'means for councratively connected to said first named means and tq aid cradle at a point near the center of gravity of the oscillating mass constituted by said cradle and gun, and resilient means being adapted to counterbalance the weight of said oscillating mass.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a gun pivotally supported at one end and movable through approximately 180 in a vertical plane about said pivot, a substantially vertical support extending above said pivot, and counterbalanc-ing means operatively connecting said support and said gun.

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an oscillating mass movable through approximately 180 about a horizontal axis, and means for counterbalancing the weight of said mass in all positions, said means being connected to said mass near its center of gravity and being supported at a point between the limiting positions of movement of said mass.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a support, a cradle pivoted at one end on said support, a gun carried-by said cradle, mechanism including resilient means operatively connected to said cradle at a point near the center of gravity of the oscillating mass, and to said support, and meanson said support for supporting the effort exerted by said resilient means at a point substantially in a vertical plane passing through the pivotal axis of said cradle.

V Apparatus of the class described com-. prlsing, in combination, a support rotatable about a vertical axis, a cradle pivoted at one end to said support about a horizontal axis, a gun carried by said cradle, resilient means operatively connected to said cradle at a point near the center of gravity. of the oscilating mass, and means for mounting said resilient means on said support at a point substantially in a vertical plane passing through said horizontal axis.

8.. pparatus of the class described comprising, incombination, a rotatable platform, a cradle, means for ivoting said cradle at the lower end thereo on said platform about a horizontal axis, a gun carried by said cradle, a support mounted on said platform, spring means mounted on said support, and means operatively connecting said spring means with said cradle for -counterbalancingthe weight of the, mass oscillating about said horizontal axis.

9, Apparatus of the class describedv comprising, in combination, a rotatable platform, a cradle pivoted at the lower end thereof on said platform, a gun carried by' said cradle, a support on said platform, a

cylinder pivotally secured to said support,

a piston in said cylinder, resilient means interposed between said cylinder and piston,

10. Apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a rotatable platform, a cradle pivoted on said platform, a gun carried by said cradle, a support pivoted on said platform, means normally maintaining said support in an upright position,

spring means pivoted on said support, means operatively connecting said spring means with said cradle, whereby the weight of the gun and-cradle is counterbalanced at all times,

and means secured to said spring means for rotating the latter about its pivot whereby said gunis elevated.

' 11. Apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a support, a cradle pivoted at one end on said support, a gun carried by said cradle,-mechanism including resilient means operatively connected to said cradle and support forcounterbalancing the weight of the mass adapted to oscillate about said pivot, and means on said support for supporting the effort exerted by-said mechanism at, a stationary point which is substantially in a vertical plane passing through the pivotal axis of said cradle.

12. Apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a platform, a cradle pivoted at one end on said platform, a gun carried by said cradle, means for counterbalancing the weight of said cradle and gun about said pivot, and a plurality of members operatively connected to said platform and adapted to constitute anchoring members for the latter whenv said 11 is be ng fired, one or more of said mem ers being adapted to constitute draft means when said apparatus is bein transported.

13. pparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a platform, ordnance apparatus pivotally mounted'on said platform including a gun and counterbalancing means therefor, said ordnance apparatus being adapted to occupy substantially the horizontal. plane of said platform, anchor means operatively connected to said platform, and means for transporting said apparatus including a pair of wheels and an axle connecting said wheels on which said apparatus'is rested.

14. Apparatus of the class described comprising, in combination, a platform, a cradle pivoted on said platform, a gun ca ried by said cradle, a normally upright support pivotally mounted on said platform, mechanism including resilient means mounted on said upright support for counterbalancing the weight of said cradle and gun, said cradle, gun, uprightsupport and mechanism being adapted to lie substantially in the horizontal plane of said platform, anchor members operatively connected to said plat- 139 form, and means including an axle and pair support being adapted to occupy a position 10 of wheels for supporting said apparatus for parallel to said p atform, and a plurality transportation, one of said anchor members of radially disposed anchor members pivoted being adapted to constitute draft means for to said platform, certain of said members 5 a limber. constituting draft means for transporting 15. A mounting for anti-aircraft guns the mounting.

comprising a platform, a gun cradle pivoted In testimony whereof I have signed this to said platform, means including a. support specification.

pivoted to said platform, said cradle and NICOLAS EMILIEN MIETHLIN. 

